The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-11-10

THE newspapers of Milwaukee and |
Chicago are venting their indignation |
over the loss of life caused by the Vernon
disaster, within view of land and in the
path of procession of vessels and steam
ers. But it is the life preserver which is
held largely responsible, as if life pre-
servers could keep men alive immersed
in water, in fierce storm and severe cold
from Saturday morning until Tuesday af-
ternoon,-the first time that any attempt
at rescue was made OF the twenty-five
bodies recovered, twenty-one had cork
life preservers on, showing that even the
cork life preserver under the circum-
stances could not shield off death. There
is indeed ample scope for criticism in
having man occupy raft for 30 hours
within sight of land, In the path of yes
sells, frequently seen by men who could
have rescued him and perishing as slowly
and certainly from exposure and starva-
ton and as hopeless of rescue as If he was
marooned. 1t is also pretty certain that
the habits of the captain were such that
he was not fit person to have charge of
boat carrying passengers. There seems
to be something suspicious In the fact
that men so competent as his assistant
officers and having previously held the
positions of master should be content to
accept subordinate positions unless it is
explainable by the rumors atloat concern
ing the habits of all. And it will not do
to attempt to forestall critisism of the
company by pleading that the dead be
allowed to rest. Evidence duplicating
the company of carelessness in selecting
officers should be gathered from every
source so that blame may be placed where
it properly belongs. Placing the respon-
sibility on the proper persons for the loss
of the fifty lives should not yield to a
sentiment, proper enough when 1T is not
invoked to shield carelessness which has
resulted in tragedy and which could be
avoided if duty was properly performed.
There is no use in attempting to discredit
the story told by Axel Stone. He has no
motive for disappearing and what he
says is in such perfect accord with infor-
nation from other sources that his state
ments may be regarded as unimpeachable.
The boat was unseaworthy as a freight
carrier and dangerous when overloaded
because of its peculiar construction
Stones statements regarding the manner
in which the disaster occurred harmon
ICES with the opinion of men having
knowledge of the Vernon and skilled In
vessel construction. The life preserver
matter is a mere bagatelle in the location
of responsibility. Had the steamer a
thousand of the very best life preservers
manufactured, there would be just one
survivor of the disaster as there now is
with the life preservers as they were.-
More bodies might have been found, no
more lives would have been saved.
And then the recovery of the bodies Is
at the expense of poor fishermen who
could lily afford the time, not to mention
the cost to them. Vessels scudded by
and steamers passed struggling wretches
in the water; signals of distress received
no attention. A man on raft is within
sight of land for two days and between
two life saving stations and is rescued by
the merest chance. What an abundance
of matter for criticism and how poor the
| judgment which with this material at
hand visits Termination upon. the COM
paratively insignificant life preserver.-
The character of the life preservers in
| being one of the many things going to
| show carelessness in providing for the
safety of human life, deserves comment,
though to less extent than the more
blamable things.